BCIJ reveals details of recently dismantled Daesh affiliated terrorist cell

During a press conference held on February 24, 2025, at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) in Sale, Director Habboub Cherkaoui revealed new details about a recently dismantled Daesh-affiliated terrorist cell.

Known as “Oussoud Al Khilafa Fi Al Maghreb Al Aqsa” (Lions of the Caliphate in the Far Maghreb), the group operated under the direct command of Abderrahmane Sahraoui, a Libyan national holding a leadership position within the terrorist organization’s Sahel branch.

According to the BCIJ, Sahraoui personally instructed the cell’s members to carry out terrorist attacks and sabotage operations on Moroccan soil. A video excerpt presented during the press conference confirmed the direct ties between this group and Daesh’s Sahel faction, further substantiating the intelligence gathered.

During his address, Cherkaoui disclosed that Sahraoui had also facilitated the smuggling of an arsenal of war to arm the terrorist cell. The weapons were discovered in Oued Naaâm, near Boudenib in the Errachidia province.

The seized stockpile, intended for the twelve members arrested so far, included rifles, ammunition, and weapons wrapped in newspapers published in Mali, dated January 15 and 27, 2025.

The BCIJ director warned that Morocco has become a priority target for Daesh’s Sahel-Sahara branch due to its strategic position and its strong counterterrorism efforts at both the African and international levels. Moroccan security services had been monitoring the cell for over a year before conducting the coordinated arrests of its twelve members across multiple cities.

Cherkaoui also provided insights into the educational backgrounds of the detainees, revealing low levels of education among them. Only one suspect had reached the first year of university, eight others had not completed secondary school, and the remaining three had education levels below middle school.

Following the initial arrests, investigators uncovered a support base for the cell, storing multiple firearms, including Kalashnikov assault rifles and handguns. This cache was also located in Oued Naaâm, near Boudenib in Errachidia province.

The BCIJ continues its investigation, with officials emphasizing the seriousness of the threat posed by terrorist cells linked to Daesh in the Sahel. Morocco remains vigilant in its counterterrorism operations, reinforcing its security coordination with regional and international partners.